Twin drive system

ABSTRACT

A single powered small diameter sprocket wheel is provided and meshed with large diameter driven rings or wheels journaled for rotation about generally parallel axes and provided with circumferentially spaced generally radial outer peripheral rollers in a first form of the invention wherein the single drive sprocket is disposed between the driven rings or wheels and journaled for rotation about an axis extending generally radially of the axes of rotation of the driven rings or wheels. In a second form of the invention a single driven shaft is provided and drives a pair of coaxial sprocket wheels equipped with intermediate shafts and the latter are drivingly engaged with circumferentially spaced rollers journaled from the outer peripheral portions of driven rings or wheels, the rollers journaled from the driven rings being journaled for rotation about axes generally paralleling the axes of rotation of the driven rings.

United States Patent [191 Grayson [21] Appl. No.: 399,718

52 user .L ..74/465,74/415 s1 rm. c1. ..Fl6h 55/06,Fl6hl/O6 58 FieldofSearch 74/465,464, 434,415

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1907 Ellingham 74/4653/1916 Souvielle 74/464 X 1,289,508 12/1918 Melcher.... 74/465 1,473,90711/1923 Hettrich 74/465 X 3,490,306 l/l970 Hansgen et a1. 74/465-XPrimary ExaminerLeonard H. Gerin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A.OBrien & Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A single powered smalldiameter sprocket wheel is provided and meshed with large diameterdriven rings or wheels journaled for rotation about generally parallelaxes and provided with circumferentially spaced generally radial outerperipheral rollers in a first form of the invention wherein the singledrive sprocket is disposed between the driven rings or wheels andjournaled for rotation about an axis extending generally radially of.the axes of rotation of the driven rings or wheels. In a second form ofthe invention a single driven shaft is provided and drives a pair ofcoaxial sprocket wheels equipped with intermediate shafts and the latterare drivingly engaged with circumferentially spaced rollers journaledfrom the outer peripheral portions of driven rings or wheels, therollers journaled from the driven rings being journaled for rotationabout axesgenerally paralleling the axes of rotation of the drivenrings.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures [6) ewe/1o, of

die

PMENTEBW 5 I974 SREUEBFZ Fig. 5

TWIN DRIVE SYSTEM The twin drive system of the instant. invention hasbeen primarily designed to provide a convenient and efficient manner ofdriving a pair of driven rings in opposite directions and at the samespeed. The drive system utilizes meshing gear wheel components whichallow for variances in tolerances and which need not be provided with apressurized circulatory or bath type oiling system.

The main object of this invention is to provide a twin drive systemwhich will be capable of driving a pair of driven rings in oppositedirections and at the same speed by a single driven shaft.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a twin drive systemwhich will be capable of driving a pair of driven rings in oppositedirections and at the same RPM whether the driven rings are coaxial ornon-coaxial.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a twin drive system in accordance with the preceding objectsand which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be ofsimple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that willbe economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a first form of twin drive systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view as seen from thereference line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the sectional line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a second form of twin drive system of theinstant invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the portion of thetwin drive system illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the gear wheel equippedintermediate shafts are meshed with the roller equipped peripheralportions of the driven rings; and I FIG. 6 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by thesection line 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 1 a stationary motor 10 isprovided and includes a journaled rotary output shaft 12 upon which agear wheel 14 is mounted for rotation therewith. In FIG. 2 it may beseen that the gear wheel 14 includes peripherally spaced gear teeth 16and is keyed to the shaft 12 by means of a key 18. The drive systemillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 further includes a pair of driven rings orwheels 20 and 22 comprising upper and lower wheels, respectively, andthe outer peripheral portions of the rings 20 and 22 include outerperipheral portions provided with downwardly and upwardly openingcircumferential grooves or recesses 24 and 26. A plurality of rollers 28are spaced evenly about the grooves 24 and 26 and journaled therein bymeans of journal pins 30. The gear wheel 14 is disposed between theupper and lower driven rings 20 and 22 and the teeth 16 of the drivewheel 14 are meshed with the rollers 28. It is to be noted that therollers are journaled from the pins 30 and are prelubricated and mayinclude appropriate seals (not shown) for retention of the lubricant.Upon rotation of the shaft 12, the rings 20 and 22 will be rotated inopposite directions. Also, it is to be noted that while the rings 20 and22 are coaxial, they may be journaled for rotation about axes spacedequally on opposite sides of the gear wheel 14. In any event, the axisof rotation of the shaft 12 is disposed substantially on a radius ofeach of the rings 20 and 22.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, asecond form of twin drive system is illustrated including a stationarilysupported motor referred to in general by the reference numeral 40 andincludes a rotary output shaft 42 having a bevel gear 44 mounted on itsouter end for rotation therewith. The outer end of the output shaft 42and the bevel gear 44 supported therefrom are disposed within a closedgear housing 46 and the shaft 42 is journaled through one side wall 48of the housing 46. The housing 46 additionally includes a pair ofopposite side walls 50 and 52 through which intermediate shafts 54 and56 are journaled and the inner ends of the intermediate shafts 54 and 56have bevel gears 58 and 60 mounted thereon meshed with diametricallyopposite portions of the bevel gear 44. The outer ends of theintermediate shafts 54 and 56 are provided with two thick gear wheels 62similar to the gear wheel 14 and the gear wheel 62 are mounted on theshafts 54 and 56 for rotation therewith.

A pair of driven rings or wheels 64 and 66 are provided and includeradially inwardly opening circumferential grooves or recesses 68 inwhich the teeth 70 of the gear wheel 62 are received. The driven rings64 and 66 include a plurality of equally circumferentially spacedrollers 72 corresponding to the rollers 28 and which are journalled frompins 74 corresponding to the pins 30. Here again, the teeth 70 of thewheel 62 are meshed with the roller 72 journaled in the recesses orgrooves 68 formed in the rings 64 and 66 and accordingly, inasmuch asthe gear wheels 62 are driven in opposite directions by the shaft 42,the driven rings 64 and 66 are also driven in opposite directions.

It will be noted that while the driven rings 64 and 66 are coaxial, theycould be journaled for rotation about axes equally spaced ondiametrically opposite sides of the intermediate shafts 54 and 56.However, if the driven rings 64 and 66 were so disposed relative to eachother the groove 68 in one of the driven rings 64, 66 would be formed inthe outer periphery thereof as opposed to the inner periphery thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, driven rotary shaft means journaled for rotationabout a first axis, a pair of driven rings journaled for rotation aboutsecond and third parallel axes, said rings being axially spaced apartand including circumferentially spaced tooth defining rollers journaledtherefrom, and drive transmission means in- 5. The combination of claim1 wherein said circumferentially spaced tooth defining rollers arecarried by inwardly facing outer peripheral portions of said drivenrings.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said circumferentially spacedtooth defining rollers are carried by axially facing outer peripheralportions of said driven rings.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said circumferentially spacedtooth defining rollers are carried by outwardly facing outer peripheralportions of said 4 driven rings.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said axes of rotation of saiddriven rings coincide, said rotary shaft means comprising axially spacedshafts having bevel gears mounted on their adjacent ends and toothedwheels on their remote ends meshed with said rollers on said drivenrings, and a rotary torque input bevel gear journaled for rotation aboutan axis disposed at right angles relative to said first axis and havingopposite peripheral portions meshed with corresponding peripheralportions of the first mentioned bevel gears.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said axes of rotation of saiddriven rings coincide, said circumferentially spaced tooth definingrollers are carried by axially facing outer peripheral portions of saiddriven rings, said rotary shaft means comprising a rotary input shaftextending at right angles through said coinciding second and third axes,said toothed drive wheel means being mounted on said rotary input shaft,meshed with corresponding peripheral portions of said driven rings anddisposed between the latter.

1. In combination, driven rotary shaft means journaled for rotationabout a first axis, a pair of driven rings journaLed for rotation aboutsecond and third parallel axes, said rings being axially spaced apartand including circumferentially spaced tooth defining rollers journaledtherefrom, and drive transmission means including toothed drive wheelmeans drivingly connecting said rotary shaft means to said driven rings.2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said axes of rotation of saiddriven rings coincide.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said axesof rotation of said driven rings parallel each other and are laterallyspaced apart.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said drivetransmission means includes means driving said driven rings from saidrotary shaft means at the same speed and in opposite directions ofrotation.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said circumferentiallyspaced tooth defining rollers are carried by inwardly facing outerperipheral portions of said driven rings.
 6. The combination of claim 1wherein said circumferentially spaced tooth defining rollers are carriedby axially facing outer peripheral portions of said driven rings.
 7. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said circumferentially spaced toothdefining rollers are carried by outwardly facing outer peripheralportions of said driven rings.
 8. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid axes of rotation of said driven rings coincide, said rotary shaftmeans comprising axially spaced shafts having bevel gears mounted ontheir adjacent ends and toothed wheels on their remote ends meshed withsaid rollers on said driven rings, and a rotary torque input bevel gearjournaled for rotation about an axis disposed at right angles relativeto said first axis and having opposite peripheral portions meshed withcorresponding peripheral portions of the first mentioned bevel gears. 9.The combination of claim 1 wherein said axes of rotation of said drivenrings coincide, said circumferentially spaced tooth defining rollers arecarried by axially facing outer peripheral portions of said drivenrings, said rotary shaft means comprising a rotary input shaft extendingat right angles through said coinciding second and third axes, saidtoothed drive wheel means being mounted on said rotary input shaft,meshed with corresponding peripheral portions of said driven rings anddisposed between the latter.